Karren Brady

Karren Brady is an inspiration to women in business and to men too. Her achievements as an entrepreneur demonstrate that talent and tenacity makes the difference between success and failure.

Karren was the first woman to break into the heavily male dominated world of football, taking on the challenges of Managing Director at Birmingham City. She was appointed to the most senior position any female had held in British football. Today she is vice-chairman of West Ham United.

On leaving the club, Karren was appointed Chairman to the England 2018 World Cup bid advisory board.

As well as being a successful businesswoman she is a journalist and is a best-selling author.

In September 2013 Karren Brady addressed the Conservative Party Conference on the topic of SMEs. Former Prime Minster David Cameron then appointed her as the government’s Small Business Ambassador.

In 2006 Karren was voted Cosmopolitan’s Woman of the Year, and in 2010 she was listed in the business category of The Sunday Telegraph’s ‘100 Most Powerful Women in Britain’, and was included in the Evening Standard’s list of ‘London’s 1000 Most Influential People 2010’.

As Karren explained to The Guardian:
“Any board executive can forget just how many people helped them get where they are. Those women who have got to the top need actively to ensure there is a pipeline of younger women, whether by networking or mentoring, who in turn are encouraging those below them. Women in the boardroom must not forget how many challenges and difficulties we have overcome, and we should share our coping strategies. “It is critical to create opportunities to identify talented women in business, then support them to develop their confidence to aim for the boardroom. We need to look outside the corporate mainstream, at female entrepreneurs and self-employed businesswomen, who can inject different insights and diversity to any board.”

Karen’s unparalleled experience as a women in the world of business makes her a powerful speaker with practical ideas to communicate.